this is a totally new desighn for our header than i'm used to seeing.

 

Wow, that is a crazy looking header. I understand the concept.
Can't wait to see numbers. Nice work guys. Looks good.

 

I'm liking this. I think i found my header choice.

 

Nice looking header.

 

I couldn't find any #'s? are there any up yet? I'm on the fence right now on this header and the Vibrant one......

 

An extra O2 bung can be added for wide-band, no problem

Ordering can be done with Dan @ ( aimee_clearimageauto@comcast.net

The price $770.00 does include shipping.

Remember the competitions tri-y configuration is wrong. While theirs will still function, it will not function as intended for a tri-y design.

We took the time to make sure we had the right firing order built into our Tri-y Header

 

Very nice looking product...

 

devil dog, Im assuming your this dan weve been hearing about so much, and if so i have 2 questions. would it be possible to get one made with a 2 1/4 collector/dp? and will the high flow cat throw a code?

 

Vibrant finally delivered mine and they moved the first O2 sensor so it only reads cylinders 2 & 3, not all 4 like the Clear Image. They also don't include or offer the O2 extensions. I haven't installed mine yet and not sure I will.

 

Hey guys,
thanks for all your comments. I'm glad you like our header. Yes, I am "that" Dan you have all been hearing about. LOL I have a lot going on in life right now so I'm next to impossible to reach. I know a couple of you guys called today with questions and I'm sorry I wasn't available. Extra O2 bungs can be added for $15.00. We have hi-flow converter cores on the way and can start building them as soon as they arrive. But, of the 70 cores coming in almost every one of them is spoken for to fill an order for either the Impala community or the Solstice/Sky community. However, we can build the "off-road pipes".

If you want to order please email Aimee at:
aimee_clearimageauto@comcast.net

She will take all your billing and shipping info, process your credit card, create the invoice, etc. I am behind over 200 emails right now and it's next to impossible to stay on top of it let alone catch-up. So unless you have technical questions please refrain from emailing me at this time.

Here's a little info about us. I started CLear Image Automotive in 1999 when I realized there wasn't any decent header for my 95 Impala SS. I had a local shop manufacturing the headers for me until I was able to open my first shop in 2003. All fabrication was brought in-house. It only took one year to out-grow the shop so I moved to a larger shop with double the space. Well, three years later we have out-grown the shop again and are moving to a new shop this May. We are a small business consisting of myself (owner/sales/runner, etc.), Todd (full time fabricator), Brandon (full time fabricator, soon to be leaving), Kyle (part time shop employee) and Donald (full time fabricator in training). Aimee is our part time office assistant and Pattie is our part time book keeper. Now you guys know the whole crew.

We are almost always behind on production because, well, I'm happy to say we offer the best products for whatever market we happen to be involved with. People want what we can build and order faster than we can build it.

I have always been 100% honest with my customers; the good, the bad and the ugly. I run my business a little different than what most people are use to. It's important for everyone to understand our position because the last thing I want is to enter a new market, get slammed with orders and have a bunch of pissed-off customers because they have been waiting for their header/converter.
I am both flattered and excited there is so much interest in this header. I only ask you all please be patient after ordering, if you decide to do so. Let us do what we do best, build a kick-a$$ header for your car! With all that said, I am looking forward to earning the respect and the name, in your community, as Clear Image Automotive has earned in all other communities we serve.

We'll do our best to stay on top of production.
Thanks again for your interest in our products!

Warmest regards,
Dan Ferraro
daniel.ferraro@comcast.net
Clear Image Automotive
http://www.clearimageautomotive.com/

In order for the header to scavenge correctly the final collector needs to be 2 1/2". But, we can include a reducer from 2 1/2" to 2 1/4" if you want to do your own fabrication from the header to the exhaust. Or, we can reduce the outlet of the down-pipe to 2 1/4". BUT, we do not have ball flanges available for 2 1/4" so it would be left as a slip fit. Or possible, if you are willing to pay for them, we could use V-band flanges.

As far as the converter and codes. We have been using these metal matrix converters for the 94 - 96 Impala SS for years, probably 600 cars driving around without any problems or codes.

We also use the same exact converters for the Solstice/Sky and we have had roughly 1/4 of our customers throw a code. One of the tuning shops has stated it is common and normal for the hi-flow converters to throw a cell with the Ecotec engines. Now, I am not a tuner and have absolutely no idea why. But i do know it has happened with not only our converter but other companies converters as well.

We have not send the first Cobalt header with hi-flow converter yet so i have no idea if a cel will occur, be common, etc.

I wish I had a better answer for you.
Thanks.

 

Well damn, I may have to get in on this also.

 

Yeah man, that is one bad ass lookin header. I cant wait to see pictures of the entire system, downpipe included

 

i'm waiting for dyno numbers. Thats a very unique header, i would still like to know if the money and the funky Y connection is worth it. Otherwise if i could get a pacesetter to do that same, why bother. I hope everything goes well and people start running them soon.

 

Devil Dog thanks for giving us this info. I would like to know why this header was never built to fit the stock downpipe. I mean for some of us money is tight and would just like the header not an entire exhaust. I would like to get this system but will need to wait cause $770 is a good chunk of change.

 

The reason is that the stock dp is restrictive, and you get more power, especially torque with longer tubes. there are plenty of other headers on the market that do work with the stock dp if thats what your looking for. I for one am glad they made it the way they did, its the only header on the market that fits what Im looking for. cant wait for pics of the whole thing

 

Our first attempt at building a header did bolt to the stock down-pipe. Take a look here:
http://www.clearimageautomotive.com/...obalt%20SS.htm
Admittedly we approached this completely wrong. We knew better and new we should have waited to get a car. But, one of the local dealerships here had a customer who was wanting a header. The dealership sent us a stock manifold and, against my better judgement, we built a fixture around it and then built a header within that fixture. The problem with doing this is we had no idea what could interfere. As it turns out the header primary tubes did not clear the water pipe. So, production fo the shorty header was scrapped. I would love to remove the info from my site but I am having some problems doing so right now.

Now, back to the TRI-Y design. We kept getting inqueries about theheader and finally managed to get a couple cars locally. There were no TRI-Y headers being offered for the Cobalt, well, at least not with the proper tube configuration to work correctly with the firing order, so we chose the TRI-Y design. It has proven itself to produce more power and low end torque than a 4 into 1 design header. But, it is labor intensive as there are 3 collectors instead of 1 and a lot more fitting, bending and welding required to produce it. Also, in order to offer it there was no possible way to get it to bolt to the stock down pipe. Unless we wrapped the tubes all around the engine compartment, like one other company is doing. In my opinion it would be and is rediculous to do so. Every time you add a bend or a turn in the header you slow down the scavenging. Many companies try to play on the "equal length" marketing tactic. They will add bends and turns in an effot to achieve equal length just so they can say "equal length". In reality all they have is a twisty turny header which scavenges less efficiently than a simple, straight forward header with minimum bends and turns.
Exhaust gases flow similar to air. Point A to point B is the best design. At least in a street car where the header has to fit the engine compartment. If there was room to do a true equal length header without ending up with a pretzel under the hood, by all means it is best. I'm happy to say our TRI-Y header is almost equal length as 3 of the 4 primary tubes are between 11 and 12 inches long with the last being a little over 9". We got close and we did it with minimal bends.

Anyways, I hope this info makes sense to everyone and helps you decide on your header choice.

Thanks guys.

 

I understand the concept of this header it is just the price that hurts. I know maybe eventually if these take off like hotcakes the price will come down a little and yes I know of the time to fabricate it is extensive BUT that is alot of money for this. I mean I bought a set of coated Paacesetter headers for my camaro and they werent this expensive.

 

I'm not trying to bash, but Pacesetter is cheaper for a reason. They use thinner gauge mild steel and they don't blend the collector for efficiency. They also have is oversized primaries, which can hinder performance.

 

You know, mentioning the primarys, I wonder if we went with stepped tubes like i've seen on some better headers if there would be a gain?? Someone needs to come out with a longer long tube, eg 18"+ tubes. I think that would produce some solid gains. Problem with our cars is they are so rare no-one wants to invest in the R&D to gain 2 hp, because only 5 people would buy a $1000 header, even if it had more performance.

Pacesetter have always been and always will be a poor man's exhaust. They are cheaply made, and have mediocre performace. I would use a stock ported manifold before a pacesetter, on any vehicle. Even one member on here I know is having leak issues from his Pacesetter header, coming from the top flange area. They need periodic re-torquing, which is sometimes necessary on a header, but I have never seen anyone with a cobalt have to do it with another product.

 

at least the firing order is correct, unlike the p.s.

 

Hi Coop,
if you are referring to the 3.8 liter V6 Camaro then I'm sure you have heard of us before. We have been offering headers and Y-pipe for years now and we are considered the absolute best when it comes to headers for that model. But, we are also the most expensive. We also go above and beyond by using 14 gage tubing, completely deburring the tubes, machining the face of the flange flat, etc, etc. We have never had a customer with an exhaust leak problem where as Pace Setter headers are known for leaking.
If you haven't heard of us in the 3.8 liter community, here's what I'm talking about:
http://www.clearimageautomotive.com/.../V6Headers.htm

When it's all said and done, our headers are less maintenance than Pace Setter, are built like a brick $hit house, fit perfectly and don't leak. Sure we cost more, but like the old cliche "you get what you pay for". I have never wanted Clear Image Automotive to have the reputation of being the cheapest on the net, just the best. I understand we may not be as affordable as the other companies, so many owners may never purchase our products. But for those who do, you will forever have our tech support and a warranty no one else in the industy offers... Higher prices for a higher quality product also keeps our production lower which allows us to concentrate more on quality, attention to detail, fit, finsih, etc.

 

Like he said you get what you pay for, I've seen so many people buy a set of headers just to go and buy a new set 6 mths later because the previous ones weren't working right, Aftger research on this site, and the web it was down to these and CTI, but the c/s at clear image has been great so I placed my order today, cant wait to have them installed, just wondering how long before i receive them.

 

What is the cost of just buying the header, would this header be able to custom fit the stock downpipe with cutting and welding? or is it too long?

 

Devildog is it possible to have a choice of ceramic coating on these headers, I went to your website and noticed that there options on Ceramic color?

 

$770 for a header and DP with Hi-Flo cat is not a lot. I was actually going to buy the JBP Vortex Header and DP and JBP wants $760 JUST FOR THEIR HEADER!!!!! and $380 for their DP. So u do the math